4 ms·

Is just having a softer touch the answer?

by enchiridion 5y ago

dotancohen 5y ago
That is half the answer. When I let people try my mechanical keyboards, especially the Cherries, I emphasize that the goal isn't to mash the key until it no longer goes down. Rather, the goal is to stop mashing somewhere between the actuation point (usually ~2mm) and the end of key travel (usually ~4mm). This corresponds to 45-60 grams of force depending on switch type, and staying in this range makes for a relatively quiet experience on quiet switches. But nothing is going to quiet the sound of switches designed to give audio feedback, such as the Cherry Blues. I do not recommend those for use in an office or even at home with other people at home.
- beepbooptheory 5y ago
  This is incidentally also great advice for gaining dynamic range on a piano
- LAC-Tech 5y ago
  > But nothing is going to quiet the sound of switches designed to give audio feedback, such as the Cherry Blues. I do not recommend those for use in an office or even at home with other people at home. Do people really get that upset about a keyboard that clicks a bit? Back when I was in open offices the annoyances were people yelling to each other with me in between, people singing, private phone calls etc. A click wouldn't even have registered.
  - cesarb 5y ago
    > > [...] I do not recommend those for use in an office or even at home with other people at home. > Do people really get that upset about a keyboard that clicks a bit? [...] A click wouldn't even have registered. Am I the only one who still remembers when typing, even in offices or at home, meant sharp hitting noises with a DING at the end of each line?
    - Moru 5y ago
      Nope, we are many that lived with that :-) There is a difference between someone pressing a button now and then, and a person that actually writes 8-10 cps. You don't give them an audio feedback keyboard or you will go deaf.

4 ms·

Is just having a softer touch the answer?

by enchiridion 5y ago

Is just having a softer touch the answer?

dotancohen 5y ago
That is half the answer. When I let people try my mechanical keyboards, especially the Cherries, I emphasize that the goal isn't to mash the key until it no longer goes down. Rather, the goal is to stop mashing somewhere between the actuation point (usually ~2mm) and the end of key travel (usually ~4mm). This corresponds to 45-60 grams of force depending on switch type, and staying in this range makes for a relatively quiet experience on quiet switches. But nothing is going to quiet the sound of switches designed to give audio feedback, such as the Cherry Blues. I do not recommend those for use in an office or even at home with other people at home.
- beepbooptheory 5y ago
  This is incidentally also great advice for gaining dynamic range on a piano
- LAC-Tech 5y ago
  > But nothing is going to quiet the sound of switches designed to give audio feedback, such as the Cherry Blues. I do not recommend those for use in an office or even at home with other people at home. Do people really get that upset about a keyboard that clicks a bit? Back when I was in open offices the annoyances were people yelling to each other with me in between, people singing, private phone calls etc. A click wouldn't even have registered.
  - cesarb 5y ago
    > > [...] I do not recommend those for use in an office or even at home with other people at home. > Do people really get that upset about a keyboard that clicks a bit? [...] A click wouldn't even have registered. Am I the only one who still remembers when typing, even in offices or at home, meant sharp hitting noises with a DING at the end of each line?
    - Moru 5y ago
      Nope, we are many that lived with that :-) There is a difference between someone pressing a button now and then, and a person that actually writes 8-10 cps. You don't give them an audio feedback keyboard or you will go deaf.